Taxonomy of a Swimbladder Nematode, Cystidicola stigmatura (Leidy), and Evidence of its Decline in the Great Lakes
Cystidicola stigmatura (Leidy, 1886) Ward and Magath, 1917 is considered a valid species after examination of specimens from Leidy's collection. Cystidicola cristivomeri White, 1941 is considered a synonym of C. stigmatura. Cystidicola stigmatura is distinguished from the only other species in the genus, namely C. farionis Fischer, 1798, by the presence of lateral lobes on the eggs rather than filaments. A neotype of F. stigmatura is designated. Cystidicola stigmatura has not been found in fishes in the Great Lakes since 1925. The parasite was found in museum specimens of lake trout (Salvelinus namaycush) collected before 1925, suggesting that the species became rare or disappeared with the decline of lake trout in these lakes.